Australia Social Media Age Ban Sparks Major Big Tech Shake-Up

Meta Description: Australia social media age ban triggers global reactions as Meta locks out under-16 users ahead of the new law starting December 10

Meanwhile, Australia is pushing ahead with a strict new rule barring under-16s from using major platforms and has rapidly become the center of the Australia social media age ban coverage worldwide. Hundreds of thousands of young users have already been locked out by Meta ahead of the December 10 deadline, marking one of the most forceful moves yet in global online safety regulation.

Early Concerns Turn to Support

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said she had qualms earlier because of the breadth of the ban. But after years of mild reforms that have failed to stem a tide of harmful platform practices, she supports the decisive shift. “We’ve reached a tipping point,” she said at the Sydney Dialogue cyber summit. Her comments added momentum to the surge of global attention on the Australia social media age ban.

Data from eSafety indicates that 96 percent of Australians under 16-more than a million young people-are currently using social media, showing the scope of the coming enforcement.

Meta and Other Platforms Forced to Comply

Despite aggressive campaigning against the law for over a year, Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube have confirmed compliance. Platforms that fail to comply with the rules may face fines of up to A$49.5 million. Already, Meta has started disabling accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, according to screenshots reviewed by Reuters.

Other platforms are notifying underage users by asking them to save photos and contacts and select either to delete accounts or freeze them until they turn 16. These rapid actions have strengthened attention on the Australia social media age ban, potentially setting a global precedent.

Parents approve as mental health concerns rise

The decision has been widely welcomed by many parents. Sydney’s mother Jennifer Jennison said this move relieves some of the pressures put on families related to screen time and mental health challenges. "Give my kids a break after school so they can rest and hang out with family," she said.

US Lawmakers Enter the Debate

Inman Grant also disclosed that U.S. officials asked her to testify before the House Judiciary Committee, claiming Australia's new policy attempts to influence American free speech. She pointed out the irony: that the request in and of itself reflects cross-border pressure. With the effective date of the Australia social media age ban, global ripple effects are likely to amplify and shape the next chapter of international tech regulation.